March 18, 2026
Known as the World's Oldest Classic, Milano-Torino has changed character over the years. In the last decade, riders such as Michael Woods, Thibaut Pinot, Mark Cavendish, and Arvid De Kleijn have won which highlights the changing nature of the course. The 106th edition will be much like the 105th. With a start in Rho, just on the outskirts of Milan, the riders will cross the long, flat expanse of the Po plain which will eat up the majority of the 174KM. Only in the last 25KM does the race spices up. There are two ascents of Superga, with the finish line at the top of the second. Superga is a 4.5KM climb at 9% with panoramic views of Turin and the Mole Antonelliana at the top. After the first time up, there is a fast descent and a loop back around to the base of the climb. The second ascent is slightly longer as the race will make a left turn off the main road to continue to the very top to finish in front of the Basilica di Superga. The finale is explosive and will suit such riders that can make full efforts after a relatively easy day in the saddle.
Highlighted Riders
Jan Christen, Jan Castellon, Derek Gee, Einer Rubio, Cian Uijtdebroeks, Tom Pidcock, Giulio Pellizzari, Michael Storer, Lorenzo Fortunato, Tobias Johannessen, Paul Double, Lorenzo Rota, Simon Carr, Harry Sweeny, Alex Baudin
Race Summary
A cool but sunny start in Rho saw the riders off for their journey Westward across the Po River basin. The road sides were looking shaggy with the first growth of grass still uncut and trees starting to blossom, making for quintessential early Spring scenes. A quick start resulted in six riders eventually going clear including Alessandro Milesi of Biesse-Carrera-Premac, Valentin Ferron of Cofidis, Patrick Konrad of Lidl-Trek, Andrea Pietrobon of Polti-VisitMalta, Mathieu Burgaudeau of TotalEnergies, and Adrien Maire of Unibet Rose Rockets. The break weren't making the peloton's job easy. In the first two hours of racing, the speed was over 48KM/HR but Walter Calzoni of Pinarello Q36.5 and Ben Zwiehoff of Redbull-Bora Hansgrohe had the them at 90 seconds with 56KM to go.
UAE-XRG got involved in the chase with around 40KM to go and just a while later, the Basilica di Superga came into view in the distance. Other teams started to move forward and the battle for position was on. Uno-X Mobility and XDS-Astana were committed to staying at the front as were Pinarello Q36.5 and Tudo Pro Cycling. The run into the base of Superga was very busy but everyone made it through safely.
It was a full lead out from the bunch as they swung left onto the climb, just 20 seconds after the break. The pace went completely out as they started climbing however. The group was wide across the road until Redbull-Bora Hansgrohe went to the front to increase the pace. Pietrobon was the last man standing from the break but he was caught 1,700M from the top as Redbull-Bora Hansgrohe continued driving on the front with the group now stretched in one long line. 600M from the top, Primož Roglič of Redbull-Bora Hansgrohe accelerated in his seated, high cadence style. A gap formed and Alex Cepeda of EF-Education EasyPost jumped across the join Roglič. Roglič led over the top with Cepeda in the wheel as Tom Pidcock of Pinarello Q36.5 was about to latch on with Cian Uijtdebroeks of Movistar to make four at the front. Another eight riders were in the second group about 10 seconds behind which included Jan Christen of UAE-XRG, Tobias Johannessen of Uno-X Mobility, Alex Baudin of EF-Education EasyPost, Giulio Pellizzari and Adrien Boichis of Redbull-Bora Hansgrohe, Carlos Verona of Lidl-Trek, Lorenzo Fortunato of XDS-Astana, and Simone Gualdi of Lotto Intermarché
The two groups came together on the descent with 16.5KM to go and the games started to be played. Redbull-Bora Hansgrohe had numbers and allowed Boichis to roll off the front. With 9KM to go, the gap had grown to 20 seconds and attacks went from the group. Nearly everyone had a go but no one got away. The playing around slowed the group which allowed a larger chase of 30 riders to make contact just 2KM from the base of Superga. Uno-X Mobility went straight to the front and had Boichis at just 4 seconds as they made the left turn onto Superga for the final time with 4.9KM to go.
Movistar and Pinarello Q36.5 were both eager to set the pace and after just 1KM of climbing, the group was trimmed down to 15 riders. Movistar continued setting the pace with two in front of Uijtdebroeks but under 3KM to go, the pace went out with only leaders remaining. Movistar decided to sacrifice Jefferson Cepeda who went to the front to keep the group together. Uijtdebroeks attacked on the steepest section with 14% gradients at 1,600M to go which stretched the group. The front split down to five riders including Uijtdebroeks, Alex Cepeda, Roglič, Pidcock, and Johannessen. Roglič reved the cadence up in the saddle and briefly distanced Uijtdebroeks but the five leaders were together under 1KM to go.
The group was playing games and dropped riders were about to make contact when Pidcock attacked just before the left turn up to the Basilica. Johannessen nearly made contact but the Brit kicked again and Johannessen turned around to look for help which indicated he was losing steam. The gap grew around the final corner and Picock had time to celebrate his victory with arms spread wide as he crossed the line. Johannessen fended off a resurgent Roglič for second place with the Slovenian rounding out the podium in third.